Squarepusher: Burningn’n Tree
Spymania/Warp, 1997
Burningn’n Tree is a compilation of tracks from Tom Jenkinson’s only two Spymania EPs, Conumber (1995) and Alroy Road Tracks (1996), the latter released under the psuedonym “Duke of Harringay.” Though these EPs aren’t Jenkinson’s first releases, they’re pretty close, and the primitive nature of these tracks is clear. There are lots of clues to Jenkinson’s influences here, including some straight-forward drum and bass and the occasional dub-inspired excursion for good measure. On the tracks which hint at Jenkinson’s later work, jazzy synth lines and bass guitar accompany meticulously programmed drum and bass beats. Squarepusher tracks are full of energy, and hold a certain charm for being in a genre all their own. As an added bonus, this CD includes three new tracks. Though the track titles do not appear on the actual album, I have it on good authority that they are as follows:
- Central Line
- (Unreleased Track)
- Nux Vomica
- Eviscerate
- (Unreleased Track)
- Male Pill 5
- Sarcacid Parts 1
- Cconumber
- (Unreleased Track)
- Eviscerate [version]
- Toast for Hardy
- Sarcacid Parts 2
